The global demand for sustainability is reshaping the corporate world, pushing companies to rethink traditional models of asset management and consumption. One area of significant concern is the waste generated by office furniture. According to the US EPA, approximately 8.5 million tons of office furniture are discarded annually, despite its high material and economic value. This session explores the remanufacturing of office furniture as a sustainable solution, particularly through a banking and exchange model, which offers both design, economic and environmental benefits. By adopting this model, architects can transition away from clients purchasing office furniture to a flexible service-based arrangement that supports sustainability while retaining valuable capital.
Learning Objectives
- Attendees will understand the trends, environmental and economic impacts of office furniture waste generated by redesigning and restacking offices.
- Attendees will be able understand the concept of remanufacturing as a sustainable solution for office furniture.
- Participants will be able to analyze the benefits of Banking and Exchange models for businesses and the environment.
- Attendees will be able to evaluate the third-party sustainability data of the circular economy principles in the office furniture remanufacturing industry.